Legal Measures for the Promotion of the Songkran Festival by Municipalities

Abstract

Background and Aims: The Cultural Heritage Promotion and Preservation Act B.E. 2559 (2016), while promoting the Songkran festival as an intangible cultural heritage, lacks the authority and responsibility for preserving and promoting it for future generations. This is especially true for municipalities, which possess significant budgetary and community development capabilities. However, they are limited to organizing events as part of their annual operational plans as internal projects, lacking the authority to encourage public participation in preserving and promoting the Songkran festival, a tradition with social, cultural, and economic impacts. This research aims to: 1. Study the history, concepts, and theories related to the Songkran festival; 2. Examine the laws concerning the promotion of the Songkran festival; and 3. Propose legal measures to empower municipalities to promote the Songkran festival.

Methodology: This qualitative research employed document analysis collected from secondary sources, both domestically and internationally.

Results: The study found that: 1. There is no law mandating municipalities to organize Songkran festival events. 2. The Cultural Heritage Promotion and Preservation Act B.E. 2559 (2016) does not mandate municipalities to promote the organization of Songkran festival events. This allows municipalities to exercise discretion in organizing Songkran festivals. 3. Recommendations were made for legal measures to empower municipalities to promote Songkran festivals.

Conclusion: Amend the Municipal Act B.E. 2496 (1953) to stipulate that city municipalities have the duty to organize Songkran festivals, while town and sub-district municipalities may organize Songkran festivals if they are ready. Furthermore, amend the Act on the Promotion and Preservation of Cultural Heritage B.E. 2559 (2016) to empower the National Committee on the Promotion and Preservation of Cultural Heritage to consider and provide budget support from the central government to municipalities that are ready to organize Songkran festivals. This will promote Songkran festivals and contribute to sustainable community economic development.